a networking breakfast to connect and grow health promotion leaders

friday, september 18, 2026
7:30–10:30am

minneapolis marriott west
9960 wayzata blvd
minneapolis, mn 55426 (opens in new tab)

Addressing the ROI Conversation

is wellness an investment delivering measurable value?

Wellness is at an inflection point. Unprecedented healthcare renewal increases, coupled with a tight economy, have the C-suite asking one critical question: Is this investment delivering measurable value?

For years, wellness programs have been expected to prove their value through reduced health care costs, absenteeism and disability claims. But prevention has always been difficult to measure because the greatest impact often happens before a claim is ever filed. Yet organizations routinely invest in preventive maintenance for equipment through scheduled outages because they understand the cost of waiting when something breaks. Why should workforce health be viewed differently?

Through a panel of experts and facilitated table discussions, we'll explore two fundamental questions:

Can you afford not to invest in wellness?

What problem are you trying to solve, and how does wellness align with that goal?

Together, we'll examine how to shift the ROI conversation toward meaningful business metrics, including voluntary turnover, retention, engagement, culture, and workforce performance. By reframing the question "What's the ROI?" to "Are we building a healthier organization?" attendees will leave with a fresh perspective on positioning wellness as an organizational strategy that supports people, performance, and long-term organizational success rather than simply a cost containment measure.

our WUWW panelists

Kristi Cherney

Market Leader at Alera

Kristi Cherney is a Market Leader at Alera Group and a recognized leader in employee benefits and population health strategies. With more than 20 years of experience spanning health plans, consulting, and employer strategy, she helps organizations improve employee health, manage healthcare costs, and create workplaces where people can thrive. She leads consulting and client strategy initiatives while helping organizations navigate the intersection of health, culture, leadership, and organizational performance.

Crystal Felten

Health Promotions Supervisor, Metropolitan Council

Crystal Felten has worked at the Metropolitan Council for 10 years serving as the Fitness and Health Specialist for 7 years, and the Health Promotions Supervisor for the past 3 years overseeing Fit For Life, the Council’s employee wellbeing program.

xr:d:DAF9Wrs1_qs:3,j:1267056696595785949,t:24022018

Lorri Anderson

HX Coaching and Consulting

Lorri Anderson believes the best business results start with a better human experience. After leading HR for more than three decades in corporate executive roles, she now partners with organizations and leaders through HX Coaching & Consulting to create workplaces where people can do their best work. Drawing on years of experience balancing strategic priorities with employee needs, she'll share a practical HR leader's perspective on measuring the true value of employee wellness.

$55 per person (opens in new tab)

registration

Discover how to drive a culture of wellbeing.

When health, wellbeing, trust and belonging come together, wellness transforms from “just a program” into the fabric of organizational culture—a culture where people feel supported, valued, and inspired.

Build cultures where people truly thrive.

Wellness programs are one of the strongest vehicles for making a “people first” culture real. They translate abstract values like “we care about our people,” into concrete experiences employees can feel, see, and participate in.

Gain fresh insights and actionable strategies.

We face growing challenges in keeping work culture strong and people-centered. It's our goal to equip leaders, HR/benefits professionals, and wellness champions with fresh ideas and a chance to connect with like-minded peers.

Creating a culture of wellness is both challenging and rewarding. We hope to provide you with an opportunity to immerse yourself in a morning dedicated to wellness, where you can re-energize, gain fresh insights, and draw inspiration from our speakers and fellow attendees.

— Mary Kruse, CEO/Owner HealthSource Solutions

thank you to our sponsor

sponsorship opportunity

Be a Wake Up With Wellness sponsor! Support this networking breakfast to connect and grow health promotion leaders. Get your company logo in front of our attendees. Mingle with attendees from a wide variety of industries — large and small businesses, municipalities, manufacturing, brokerages, government offices, non-profit organizations, retail, schools, and health care organizations. Participants include human resources personnel, health educators, wellness managers, dietitians, safety professionals, benefits consultants, fitness professionals, and wellness committee volunteers. Be a part of meaningful conversations that will leave you recharged and motivated.

WUWW sponsor

$400

Includes signage throughout event, attendance for one person, attendee list post-event.

Sponsor Registration